Where does “lesse” come from?

lesse (English) comes from English less, from Middle English les, from Old English lēas, from Proto-Germanic *laus.

lesse (English): Archaic form of less

Definitions

  1. Archaic form of less

Ancestry of “lesse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlessTo a smaller extent or degree; comparative form...
2Middle Englishlesfalse; lying; deceptive; falsehood; a lie
3Old Englishlēasfalse, lax; false, void, loose; devoid of, loose...
4Proto-Germanic*laus—
Every word from Proto-Germanic *laus →Every word from Old English lēas →Every word from Middle English les →
lesse — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer